Zhan Qingcheng said nothing, only staring at her, his expression seeming somewhat off.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, what is it you want to say?” Jiu’er leaned closer to him, thinking he did not want others to hear and was therefore holding back his words.

But it was clear that was not the case with Ninth Imperial Uncle — even when she drew near, he still said nothing.

This manner of his left Feng Jiu’er feeling oddly unsettled, not knowing what she had done wrong.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, just say what’s on your mind, alright?”

He still said nothing, wearing that proud look of his.

Jiu’er let out a breath. Pride — what was she to do about that? And more to the point, why was he being proud?

“Then… Ninth Imperial Uncle, if you won’t speak, I’ll go out and prepare some food for you, alright?”

Still no reaction, as expected. Why had the word “insufferably vain” suddenly come to mind?

Feng Jiu’er wanted to laugh ruefully, but at this moment, she found she could not even manage that.

She stood up and turned to walk toward the cave entrance.

“Come back.” The man’s cool, clear voice carried a faint thread of urgency.

Urgency! What was Ninth Imperial Uncle anxious about? Under the entire heavens, there were surely very few things that could make Ninth Imperial Uncle anxious.

This brooding, self-contained man — just moments ago she had kept asking and he refused to speak, bashful and reticent as a young bride. What on earth did he want to say to her?

Jiu’er turned back and returned to his side once more, her expression sincere: “Ninth Imperial Uncle, just say it.”

Zhan Qingcheng looked at her, and that gaze of his… Feng Jiu’er rubbed her temple. Why did it always feel as though that look of his carried a faint, wounded grievance?

Ninth Imperial Uncle! You are the Ninth Imperial Uncle who stands tall beneath the heavens, capable of anything — please stop looking at her with such a pitiful expression.

A Ninth Imperial Uncle like this would, at any moment, make a person feel an overwhelming urge to throw herself at him — did he understand that?

If it were not for the fact that her mood had been somewhat heavy lately, Jiu’er would certainly have teased him a little more. But given the current situation, how could she tease?

Mu Mu lay unconscious between them, that head of white hair…

Zhan Qingcheng followed the direction of her gaze and glanced at the man he utterly despised yet had no choice but to continue saving, and gave a cold snort.

Jiu’er immediately caught herself, pulling all her attention back to Ninth Imperial Uncle — she dared not let her eyes wander again.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle…”

“If it were to save you, this Prince would not hesitate to give up this life.”

With those words spoken, he closed his eyes and resumed his rest, paying her no further heed.

So all that time spent in hesitation and struggle — it had been to say those few words to her, words that struck the heart so deeply they could not be put into speech.

If it were to save you, this Prince would not hesitate to give up this life… So all that pride, all that inner conflict — it had been because he wanted to tell her: what Mu Mu could do, he could do as well.

This proud and contrary yet utterly sincere man…

A wave of bittersweet ache washed through Jiu’er’s heart, and her nose began to sting. Tears almost slid down her face.

“Pain—” A sudden tightening seized her head, and Jiu’er hurriedly pulled her gaze away from Ninth Imperial Uncle.

“Stop letting your thoughts run wild. Go outside.” Zhan Qingcheng’s heart clenched too — that damnable Heartless Gu!

Given the current situation, Elder Shi likely had no opportunity to remove the Gu from her. Once they were settled somewhere, the first priority would be to rid her of the Gu poison.

Otherwise, Mu Mu’s life — they need not count on saving it!

Jiu’er’s breathing grew unsteady. She immediately turned and walked out of the cave.

She could not look at Ninth Imperial Uncle, could not let herself fall into those thoughts that stirred her heart while facing him, could not — none of it was permitted!

The moment her heart moved, the pain in her head followed as though linked to it, surging wildly and fiercely — it truly hurt!

Ye Luosha watched as Feng Jiu’er came out. Although they had not spoken loudly just now, there was only so much distance between inside and outside the cave, and given her formidable cultivation, it had not been difficult to hear their conversation clearly.

What Ninth Prince had said just now… This man who appeared cold-hearted and indifferent, utterly untouched by the warmth of the mortal world — he had actually said such tender words to her.

Though even from such a distance she could hear the strained awkwardness laced through Ninth Prince’s words, at least he had said them.

For a man as proud and emotionally closed-off as he was to speak words of such deep, unwavering devotion — how difficult must that have been.

Yet in the end, he had said them.

Wu Ya and Mu’er… why had both of them given their hearts to Feng Jiu’er? If things continued this way, what would become of them?

Two men loving the same woman — in the future, someone was bound to be hurt.

Why had fate arranged things this way, with only one Feng Jiu’er… no matter who was wounded, she would surely feel it in her heart.

If the two brothers were to turn against each other over this girl — as they were now, already set against one another like fire and water, already trying to destroy each other…

The more Ye Luosha thought on it, the more uneasy she became, the more afraid. When she saw Feng Jiu’er come out cradling her head, she could not begin to describe what she felt inside.

Feng Jiu’er was a Feng daughter. If Ninth Prince truly was Tianya, then regardless of whether Feng Jiu’er chose Mu’er or Ninth Prince, it would be good news for the Di family.

But if both brothers refused to accept any outcome except having this one girl…

“Your Heartless Gu — once everything is settled, I will have Elder Shi find a way to remove it.”

She fixed her gaze on that slender back and spoke evenly: “However, removing a Gu is a process. It is not a simple matter and cannot be rushed.”

Feng Jiu’er’s footsteps paused for just a moment. She gave a small nod, then walked on.

Whether removing the Gu was a simple or complex process, she herself did not fully understand. Still, that Ye Luosha had brought it up on her own initiative surprised her somewhat.

To say it was simply gratitude toward her and Ninth Imperial Uncle for doing everything in their power to save Mu Mu — that, Feng Jiu’er did not quite believe.

She did not think Ye Luosha was the soft-hearted sort. The two of them had not even brought it up themselves, yet she had volunteered willingly — that seemed unlikely.

But regardless, if Elder Shi was truly willing to remove the Gu for her, that would be a welcome thing.

Just thinking that somewhere inside her own head lived some invisible, colorless creature made her feel utterly wretched inside.

Jiu’er walked toward the nearby grove, intending to look around for any medicinal herbs she could make use of before Long Yi returned.

She had not expected, after making only half a circuit of the surrounding area, to suddenly hear the sounds of fighting coming from the direction of the cave. The fright nearly made Feng Jiu’er drop the herbs she had just gathered, and she rushed back in a panic.

Outside the cave, a figure gripped a long sword, facing off against Elder Shi.

Elder Shi had sustained some injuries over the past two days — he had channeled his inner energy into Mu Mu and suffered a backlash from the process — and now he was showing signs of being unable to hold his own against the young man.

Ye Luosha had risen to her feet, wanting to intervene, yet hesitated over the fact that the other side had only one person — reluctant to have them gang up on a lone opponent.

Jiu’er breathed out in relief and stepped forward quickly: “Eleven, stand down — for now, we are on the same side.”

The newcomer was Long Eleven of the Feilong Shi’er Qi, the one among the twelve riders with whom Jiu’er was closest.

As for why she said “for now” — it was because, for the moment, everyone was bound to the same thread. What would come after was harder to say.